Valley air quality in Utah is a health crisis. And, it’s not just a winter inversion problem.

Anyone hiking up our mountains in spring, summer, or fall will look down on a putrid brownish layer, that isn’t as noticeable until you rise above it. The air up above is markedly sweeter and purer.

Every day thousands of gas-powered vehicles belch toxic CO into the atmosphere. They need to be replaced with clean electric and natural gas vehicles. We have the technology -- let’s use it.

Utah has an expanding number of natural gas and electric charging stations. The Legislature needs to provide a large “one-time” taxpayer incentive to transition to these pollution-free vehicles, and replace the gas tax with a new tax on electric and natural gas vehicles to offset and aid in this transition.

Air pollution is a huge detriment to our health and economy. Representatives of the people, let’s get serious and do the right thing for Utah and its citizens. Imagine the respect and stature Utah would gain if we resolved this noxious air quality problem.

We may be last in per capita spending on education, but we have the most polluted air in the nation too. We can certainly get by spending less per student, but in the end if we destroy our health, economy, and environment, education won’t really matter. Our students may even get better grades and a better education if they have clear air to breathe.